IPA Programme

The Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA) is a pre-accession programme for the period 2007-2013 which has replaced the previous CARDS, Phare, ISPA and SAPARD programmes.

The IPA Programme was established by European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1085/2006 of 17 July 2006; its financial value for the seven-year programming period for all beneficiary countries totals 11.468 billion EUR. As of 2007, the Instrument is completely open to the Republic of Croatia with a total financial allocation of 589.9 million EUR.

The main goals of this programme are: providing assistance in institutional capacity building and the rule of law, human rights including constitutional rights, minority rights, gender equality and non-discrimination, administrative and economic reforms, economic and social development, reconciliation and redevelopment, as well as regional and cross-border cooperation. The program supports the development of institutional capacities to increase the absorption capacity for utilization of funds which Croatia will have at its disposal following EU accession (structural funds and the Cohesion fund).

The IPA Programme is made up of five components:

Assistance in transition and institution building

Cross border cooperation

Regional development

Human Resources Development

Rural Development.

Cooperation between the European Commission and the Government of the Republic of Croatia have been regulated in the Framework Agreement between the European Community and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, determining the rules for cooperation between the European Community to the Republic of Croatia regarding the implementation of financial assistance in the framework of the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA).

For Component I of IPA (Assistance in transition and institution building), an annual national programme is prepared; for Components II (Cross border cooperation) and V (Rural Development) seven-year operational programmes are created; for Components III (Regional Development) and IV (Human Resources Development), three-year operational programmes are prepared. The Central Office for Development Strategy and Coordination of EU Funds is responsible for the overall coordination of IPA in Croatia, especially in preparation and monitoring of the implementation of IPA programmes, while the main responsibility for the coordination of financial management lies with the Ministry of Finance.

Component IV – Human Resources Development

The Operational Programme for Human Resources Development is a framework for the utilization of funds in the fields of employment, education and social inclusion. The European Commission adopted the programme on 7 December 2007 for a three-year period.

An analysis of the state of affairs which was carried out during the preparation of the Operational Programme portrays a need for intensive work with groups facing high unemployment, a further need to harmonize educational programmes with labour market demands, promotion of the principle of life-long learning, and if necessary, implementation of special measures for individuals who are socially excluded and have limited access to the labour market. To ensure the creation of new high-quality jobs, the programme will deal with a limited number of priorities of key importance for social and economic cohesion.

The management and implementation of the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development is under the authority of the Operating Structure which is made up of five institutions.

The Ministry of Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship has the role of the Head of the Operating Structure, holding full authority for the implementation of the entire Operational Programme as well as responsibility for certain priorities/measures. The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare operate as bodies responsible for certain priorities/measures within the Operating Structure.

The Croatian Employment Service and Agency for Vocational Education and Training are implementing bodies within the Operating Structure.

Based on the fact that the level of assistance available in the framework of these components is quite low, the Operational Programme is focussed on a limited number of priorities and supported measures with the incorporated possibility for further elaboration and development in the framework of the European Social Fund (ESF), where more significant financial allocations are available.